PREDICTORS OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS CONDOM USE AND HIV RISK BEHAVIOR

This study evaluated predictors of risky and safer behavior in a sampl e of low-income African American adolescents, assessed their perceptio ns of the risk associated with their sexual behavior, and examined dif ferences between adolescents who used condoms consistently, inconsiste ntly, or engaged only in unprotected intercourse. African American ado lescents (N = 312) completed measures related to AIDS knowledge, frequ ency of condom use, attitudes toward condoms, and sexual behavior over the preceding 2 months. Multiple regression analyses for the sexually active youths (N = 114) revealed that lower self-efficacy, higher per ceived risk, and male gender were associated with high-risk behavior; Positive attitudes toward condoms and younger age had the strongest as sociation with condom use. Consistent condom users were more knowledge able and held more positive attitudes toward condoms, and nonusers wer e older. Regardless of their behavior, the adolescents generally did n ot perceive themselves to be at risk for HIV infection. The findings s uggest that precautionary practices (condom use) and high-risk behavio r (unprotected sex with multiple partners) may have different correlat es. In addition, the data indicate that theoretical models developed w ith homosexual male populations may also be generalizable to African A merican adolescents' sexual behavior.